Gopher trap



R. C. LUTZ GOPHER TRAP Dec. 4 1923.

Filed sepi- 28. 2 sheets-sheet 2 vwantoz C Luiz;

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

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ROBERT C. LUTZ, OF PAOLA, KANSAS.

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Application led September 28,1922. Serial No. 591,147.

To all w hom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT C.- LUTZ, av

and 'to provide means whereby'the setting of the trap may be accomplished with the minimum of risk to thel trapper or operator while. insuring the springing thereof when 20 encountered by the animal; and with'these objects in View the invention consists in a construction, combination and relation of parts of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings,

A 25 wherein Figure 1 is a plan view,

Figures 2 and 3 are front views with the trap shown respectively in the set and in the sprung or engaged position,

Figure 4 is a side view,

Figure 5 is a view of the trap with the setting key applied thereto to hold the prongs or spur carrying arms in the set position while adjusting the latch arm,

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are detail views respectively of the yoke frame, the latch arm and the key, detached from the other parts.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of the trigger plate and adjacent parts.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Figure 5.

The trap consists essentially of av yoke frame 10 having a looped body portion 11 of which the sides are deiiected and are provided with terminal parallel spindle portions 12 connected by a tie rod 13 of which the terminal coils or eyes 14 are engaged with grooves 15 in the extremities of the spindle portions 12 of the frame.

The tie rod is preferably arched as shown heavy spring wire provided-with spring ,coils 17 which respectively lit upon the spindle portions of the yoke frame, said. arms terminally carrying the spurs 18 whichare adapted and .designed to impale the animal, said spurs being directed outwardly in the sprung position and theset position of the arms. indicatedY in Figure 2, disposing the spursupwardly with relation to the frame, and with" the arms disposed -in cross-ing relation and substantially parallel with and i above the plane ofsaid frame. The jaws are connected for simultaneous closing or lengaging movement 'by a vguide eyel 19 consisting of va coil formed in a latch bar 2O having a terminal 21 adaptedvfor engagement with the tie rod 13 and an arm extending in the opposite direction from said terminal which is adapted for engagement with an opening 22-in a .trigger plate 23 which is designed to occupy a position in Y perpendicular relation with the plane of the frame when the trap is set as indicated. The trigger plate is provided at its lower end with an eve 24 engaged to pivotally mount the'plate with a cross rod 25 which spans the interval between the sides ofthe loop 11 of the frame, the rod 25 having terminalf'coils 26 embracing the arms of the loop at notches 26a. Y

To facilitate the holding of one of the jaws in its tensioned or set position while the other jaw is being depressed or set and the adjustment of the latch is being effected, a key 27 may be employed as indicated in Figures 5, 8 and 10, the same consisting ofy a shank provided with reversed. loops 28 manually depressed and hook 30'thereupon v engaged therewith and loop 29 engaged with rod 13whereby such jaw 16 is set and locked in set position. The other jaw 16 may then be manually depressed andthe latch 2() engaged with trigger plate 23 and the key 27 thereafter removed.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:- f f i 1. An animal trap having a frame forming a base, oppositely movable spring jaws mounted upon the frame, said jaws when set los being disposed in overlapping relation, a

latch having a coil embracing the jaws and provided with oppositely extending arms, a cross bar carried by the frame with which one of said arms engages, nand a pivotally mounted trigger plate carriedby the frame and having an opening with Vwhich the eX- tremity of the lother arm of said latch en-V gages.

2.' An animaly trap having a frame forming a base, oppositely movable spring jaws' mounted upon the frame, said jaws when setbeing disposed in overlapping relation, aV latch having a coil embracing the jaws and provided `With oppositely extending arms, a cross bar carried by the frame with which one of said engages, and a pivotally mounted trigger plate carried bythe fiaine and having an opening .with which the extremity of the other of said latch engages, the frame `being of-looped form lwith its extremities disposed in parallel spaced relation to torni spindles, andthe' said aivs beingrformed of a si'ngleblanl of- .said latch. engages, the frame being of looped form With its extremities disposed in parallel spaced relation to Aform spindles,Y

'and the said jaws being 'lormed of a single blank of Wire lhaving spring coils Which respectively enb ge said spindle portions, and said Cross bar being' terminally engaged with the extremities of said spindle portions and being intermediately arched `forA engagcment by tle latch. f y

An animal tiap having a iframe, spring aw means carried thereby, aley having reverse loops adapted for connectionV to and inovenientl on said frame to restrain said jaw means While settingthe trap, and one ot said loops at its l,iree'end terminating in Aa frame-engaging hooln i In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of tivo Witnesses. f' l Y n Y ROBERT C. LUTZ. Witnesses: Y f Y NANCY NELSON, W. CLYDE WEIR. 

